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Kudos
As you travel along I-75 in northwest Ohio, there is much to see and do in Allen, Hancock, Wood, and Lucas counties. For information about the tours offered in each of these fine counties, check out the Group Tour section or call the Lima/Allen County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 419-222-6075.

- I-75 Corridor Tours


We are excited to announce that the CVB along with the Lima Area Chamber of Commerce, Allen Economic Development Group, Downtown Lima Inc., Allen Lima Leadership and others have now relocated into our new offices in the Schnorf/Wagner Building in Downtown Lima. We encourage everyone to stop in and visit us at our new location: 144 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45801. Our email, website and phone number all remain the same!

- Lima/Allen County CVB relocates to new office!

The Blue Caboose is owned and managed by the Lima-Allen County Convention & Visitors Bureau and staffed by nearly 30 volunteers. These Tourism Specialists give their time, enthusiasm, and knowledge to welcoming visitors to Lima and Allen County by providing local, state, and regional information and printed materials for inquisitive travelers. The Caboose is open seasonally from the end of May to Labor Day.

- Blue Caboose Tourist Info Center


Kudos is a feature on our web site that highlights special events, awards received, promotions, new business openings, new menus, and any other noteworthy information. To submit an article or item for consideration please email your news to cara@lima-allencvb.com (include the word "Kudos" in the subject line) or call the CVB office at 419-222-6075. We look forward to hearing from you!

- Lima/Allen County CVB


Allen County's Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center has a new website. If you are planning a meeting, big or small, a convention, reception or special event you can get many details at this site. You can also find out what's going on at Crouse Performance Hall, reserve your tickets on line and get information on Memorial Hall of Allen County. Check it out!! www.limaciviccenter.com

- Lima's Civic & Convention Center



March Events:

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Cirque Shanghai presents Bai Xi

A REGIONAL EVENT -

Tuesday, March 1, 2011.
7:30 p.m.
Location: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert.

The Show of a Hundred Wonders.

Tickets: $20, $25, $30. On sale Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

 
Contact:
Niswonger Performing Arts Center
10700 St. Rt. 118 South
Van Wert, OH  45891
419-238-6722

 

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College Access Monthly Workshops

Tuesdays.
January 11, February 1, March 1, and April 12, 2011.
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: YMCA Annex, 136 S. West St., Lima.

Cost: Free!

Contact:
Wendy Schall
567-204-3861

 

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Bluffton University Artist Series - Pianist Martina Filjak

Thursday, March 3, 2011.
7:30 p.m.
Location: Bluffton University, Yoder Recital Hall.

Bluffton University Artist Series - Pianist Martina Filjak.
Since her debut in her native Croatia at age 12, Martina Filjak has developed an extensive repertoire of piano concertos, performing regularly in her home country and abroad.

Contact:
Robin Bowlus
Bluffton University
1 University Drive
Bluffton, OH  45817
419-358-3453

 

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Pickles Blues Extravaganza

Friday & Saturday, March 4 & 5, 2011.
Doors open: 6:00 p.m.
Music starts: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Allen County Memorial Hall, 120 W. Elm St., Lima.

Held annually on the first Friday and Saturday in March, the Pickle's Blues Extravaganza hosts blues bands from around the country. Organizers believer the blues is American music in its purest form - a special music that brings people together - a universal language. Every year they try to mix it up rather than bringing the same style.
Bands TBA.

Reserved tables: 10 seats, $200.
Balcony: 1 person to a seat, $10.

 
Contact:
Jerry Feldner
419-234-1238

 

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Tri-State Gun Show

March 5 & 6, 2011.
Held the first Saturday and Sunday from January - May and October - December.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Allen County Fairgrounds.

A popular show for collectors. Guns, knives, hunting equipment and associated collectibles.

Admission Fee: Adults - $4.00; Children 14 and under - Free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

 
Contact:
Manetta Sneary
419-647-0067

 

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Lima Symphony - Four Fables: A Family Concert

Sunday, March 6, 2011.
3:00 p.m.
Location: Veterans' Memorial Civic & Convention Center, Crouse Performance Hall.

Four stories that have charmed generations of children, larger than life body puppets from Madcap Productions, bright colors and boundless energy combine for a silly and fun-filled musical adventure sure to delight all ages. Join us for our annual family concert as we present the vivid Sorcerer's Apprentice famously brought to life in Walt Disney's Fantasia, the only slightly spooky Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the merry zaniness of Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham and the beguiling grace and beauty of The Firebird.

All tickets: $10.

Contact:
Lima Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 1651
Lima, OH  45802
419-222-5701

 

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Encore Theatre - Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

March 11-13 & 18-20, 2011.
Friday & Saturday: 8:00 p.m.
Sunday matinee: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Encore Theatre.

Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.
In a dried-up west Texas dime store, five "Disciples of James Dean" reunite to honor the silver screen legend on the 20th anniversary of his death. Now middle-aged women, they were teenagers when Dean filmed Giant two decades ago in nearby Marfa. Flashbacks and 50's music get shaken up with laughter and a twist of fate in this comedy/drama by Ohioan Ed Graczyk.

Cost: Regular Adult: $13; Senior: $11; Student to age 18: $8.

Contact:
Encore Theatre
991 North Shore Drive
Lima, OH  45801
419-223-8866 or 1-800-944-1441

 

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Lima Beane Barbershop Chorus

Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Two shows: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Veterans' Memorial Civic & Convention Center, Crouse Performance Hall.

Don't miss Lima's annual Barbershop harmony show. This year's theme is Good Old Days. The guest quartet is the 2010 International Silver Medalist, Old School.

All tickets: $15.00. Box office fees may apply. All reserved seating.

Contact:
Civic Center Box Office
419-224-1552

Terry Reichenbach
419-384-3119, cell: 419-306-0374
email: terryr@q1.net

 

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Women's Self Defense Course

March 12, 19, 26 & April 2, 9, 2011.
11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Lima Community Church Journey Building, 2945 N. Cole St., Lima.

The Lima Police Department in its progressive continuous effort to serve our community, is offering the RAD (Rape-Aggression-Defense) Women's Self Defense Education Program. The RAD program is a comprehensive women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction, and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on self-defense training. The RAD Women's is for any woman 13 years of age or older.

The course attendance is limited to around 20 participants. This is Session 4 that includes the full 15 hours required for completion of the course.
Additional sessions are planned with location to be announced beginning September, 2011 through March, 2012.
If the session you choose is full, you may have to choose another session, or be placed on a waiting list for your original chosen session.

The course will be instructed by the husband/wife team of Lima Police Officer Dave Vastano and his wife Deb Vastano. Both Dave & Deb are certified RAD Women's and radKIDS instructors.

The course is free of cost; however if an individual wishes to do so, a donation to the City of Lima Safety Service's Fund will gladly be accepted by check only to help defer some of the costs of the program.

To register contact officer Dave Vastano preferably by email at: david.vastano@cityhall.lima.oh.us or by phone at 419-221-5269 if unable to register by email.

 

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Five By Design - Club Swing

A REGIONAL EVENT -

Friday, March 18, 2011.
7:30 p.m.
Location: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert.

Community Concert Series: Five By Design.

Club Swing celebrates the songs, events and personalities that defined American popular culture during the Swing era.

Tickets: $25. On sale Wednesday, December 15, 2010.

 
Contact:
Niswonger Performing Arts Center
100700 St. Rt. 118 South
Van Wert, OH  45891
419-238-6722

 

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The Pirates of Penzance

A REGIONAL EVENT -

Friday, March 25, 2011.
7:30 p.m.
Location: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert.

This New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players production is your chance to get carried away by Pirates.This exuberant musical theater masterpiece is performed in its original format. The rich sounds of full orchestra, chorus, and legitimate vocal soloists resonate with classic elegance and power while the company's vibrancy, energy and contemporary sense of humor keep the show alive and exciting to a modern audience.

Tickets: $20, $25, $30, $35, $40. On sale Monday, December 20, 2010.


Contact:
Niswonger Performing Arts Center
10700 St. Rt. 118 South
Van Wert, OH  45891
419-238-6722

 

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Bluffton University Artist Series - All-American Boys Chorus

Thursday, March 31, 2011.
7:30 p.m.
Location: Bluffton University, Yoder Recital Hall.

Bluffton University Artist Series - All-American Boys Chorus.
Under the direction of Wesley Martin, the chorus includes more than 30 boys ages 9-14. In its 40-year history, the Costa Mesa, California-based ensemble has produced five full-length albums and has appeared on the Disney Channel.

Contact:
Robin Bowlus
Bluffton University
1 University Drive
Bluffton, OH  45817
419-358-3453

 

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